ONCE-MONTHLY BISPHOSPHONATE THERAPY

Roche is pleased to introduce a new and highly potent bisphosphanate for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Bonviva (Ibandronic Acid) 150mg tablet is the first and only once-monthly tablet that provides bisphosphonate efficacy in a convenient once-monthly dosing with a proven tolerability profile.

Various clinical trial have reported the efficacy and safety of Bonviva including the pivotal BONE trial. In this study Bonviva was shown to significantly reduce the risk of new morphometric vertebral fractures by 62% and to increase bone mineral density(BMD) as early as 6 months. In addition, a non-vertebral fracture risk reduction of 69% was observed in a subgroup of patients at high risk of fracture. Studies have also demonstrated that Bonviva increases bone strength in OVER 9 OUT OF 10 women, maximizing their chance of treatment success.

As with all long-term osteoporosis medication, treatment works best when patients are committed to staying on therapy. Let your pharmacists to share with you how Bonviva can offer patients an alternative convenient regimen, providing the link to enhanced adherence and improved treatment outcomes.

A NATURAL WAY TO LOWER CHOLESTEROL

Cholesterol, a soft, white, waxy substance found in our blood circulation forms an important part of the cell membrane and is also the building block of steroid hormones and bile acids in our body. The liver makes 80% of the cholesterol our body needs while 20% comes from the food that we eat. Seafood, red meat,poultry and dairy products are rich in cholesterol whereas foods from plant origin contain no cholesterol.

There are 2 types of cholesterol, LDL, also known as the "bad cholesterol" and HDL, known as good cholesterol. Elevated LDL cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of coronary disease. LDL lipoprotein deposits cholesterol on the artery walls, causing the formation of a hard, thick substance called cholesterol plaque. HDL cholesterol particles prevent atherosclerosis by extracting cholesterol from the artery walls and disposing of them through the liver.

There are many ways to keep cholesterol level in the check. Eating less foods that are high in cholesterol and exercising are two such ways. Certain foods are known to have effect on reducing cholesterol and among these red yeast rice seems to be very promising. Made by fermenting rice with a pure strain of red yeast (Monascus Purpureus Went), its history in China dates backs thousands of years. There, it was used as food additives and as medicine for improving blood circulation. Most recently red yeast rice extract taken in supplement form has been found to reduce overall blood cholesterol levels and to improve the ratio of good and bad cholesterol.

Red yeast rice was found, in recent studies, to contain monacolins which are naturally occurring HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, the enzyme responsible for blocking the production of cholesterol in the body. A study conducted by the University of California - Los Angeles School of Medicine found that people who took red yeast rice and maintained a low fat diet reduced their overall cholesterol levels by an average 40 points over a period of 12 weeks.

A red yeast rice supplement available in the market today . Please consult your pharmacists to ask the products that has been clinically proven,safe and effective in lowering cholesterol levels.

Good luck.

THE SHOCKING TRUTH OF THE MISSING MINERALS IN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

A 1991 analysis by the Ministry of Agriculture, UK and Medical Research Council, UK showed that in a short span of 50 years, levels of certain minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium have been reduced by 75 % in the fruits and vegetables.

In 1980, US Department of Agriculture survey found that 90% of the 20,000 individuals studied were found to have inadequate mineral levels.

The 1936 report of the 74th Congress of the US stated that something is missing in our foods; "Our food is now being raised on millions of acres of land that no longer contain enough of certain minerals. No man today can eat enough fruits and vegetables to supply his system with minerals he requires for perfect health because his stomach isn't big enough to hold them".

The above scientific statement was put before the US Senate in 1936! Can you imagine how much worse can the conditions of the soil could be now? So the only way to put back these missing minerals is by getting it from other sources.

Today, let me introduce Colloid capsules to you. It is the first colloidal mineral in Malaysia, a highly absorbable plant derived colloidal minerals with up to 40 minerals. The minerals come from Shilajit, a unique plant originated from in Himalaya's millions of years ago.

The minerals in Colloid capsules are 2000 times smaller than elemental minerals (inorganic source of multivitamins) and 1700 times smaller than red blood cell. With a negative charge and a hydrophilic character, minerals in Colloid capsules have a 100% absorption rate in the human body.

Therefore, Colloid capsules are truly one of the effective way to get your missing minerals back. For more info, please consult your pharmacist. Good luck!

ROTATEQ IS LAUNCHED IN MALAYSIA

MSD Malaysia launched Rotateq, a vaccine that targets 5 strains of rotavirus - G1, G2, G3, G4 and P1. These strains were known to have caused more than 90% of the rotavirus infections detected in children worldwide, between 1989 and 2004.

The vaccine was developed to prevent rotavirus gastroenteritis, a leading cause of severe diarrhea requiring hospitalisations in infants and young children. It is an oral, three-dose vaccine given to infants between the ages of 6 to 32 weeks.

Rotavirus is easily transmitted through the fecal-oral route and the fecal contamination of food. A large quantity of the virus is shed in the stool of an infected carrier. The hardy virus can survive on clothing, floor surfaces, or even toys for weeks.

Infants and young children are most susceptible to rotavirus infections because they frequently put their contaminated fingers or toys into their mouths.

TOPICAL RETINOID & ANTIBIOTIC COMBINATION FOR ACNE MANAGEMENT

Topical combination therapy with a retinoid and an antibiotic may be sufficient to treat more severe inflammatory disease without adding a systemic agent.

The advantages of combination topical retinoid and topical antimicrobial therapy in acne are as follow:

1) Combination therapy permits the targeting of several pathogenic factors simultaneously.

2) Faster & more complete clearance of both comedones & inflammatory lesions than with

antibiotic alone.

3) Topical retinoid therapy enhances penetration of antimicrobial agents, and speeds up action

of antibiotics.

4) Topical antibiotics decrease the irritant effect of the retinoid.

5) The combination may help limit bacterial resistance to the antibiotic.

Topical retinoids when added early at the start of treatment give fastest results. Antibiotic can be discontinued later when inflammatory lesions resolve.

The therapeutic combination decreases comedogenesis, bacterial growth, and inflammation, thus efficacy and tolerance are maximized, and the degree of skin irritation is minimized.

How to apply? Generally, in a regimen of 2 or more topical agents, the treatments will be applied at different times of day. Most commonly, the topical antibiotic will be applied in the morning and the retinoid at bedtime. However, it has also been suggested that a better approach might be twice-daily application of a topical antibiotic plus a topical retinoid at bedtime so as to minimize the risk of acquiring antibiotic-resistant P.acnes populations.